10 June 2021
Illogical response by Mohammed M Buhari
The Nigerian President, Mohammed Buhari after placing a ban on Twitter, last week granted an interview to Arise TV.
Now I thought was the time for Mr. President to sell himself to the world, however, he decided to make a fool of the situation and embarrass the whole country as a whole. he was asked what he could do to make Nigeria attractive to foreign investors as most investors would rather go to our neighboring countries to invest.
Mr. President's response was that the question was answered during #ENDSARS "you remember the young people who want to come in here and remove me?" at this point, I couldn't help myself but to scream.....the #ENDSARS you are referring to was a peaceful protest and not a coup 'de tat. the young people just want to be governed right and not have some who can not respond to the question he is being asked govern them blindly. we are asking for accountability. we are asking for good roads, we are asking for basic social amenities, we are asking not to be killed and harassed at every given opportunity because of our sexual orientation or the way we are dressed.
This man is so oblivious of what is actually going on in the country that he claims to be president. you are being asked how you can attract foreigners to invest in Nigeria but you are talking about how you called members of the executive council to go talk to governors and traditional rulers and that there is no vacancy in all the parameters of government.
my guy, you are literarily talking out of point. please step down and let some else run the Country
15 May 2021
MAKEUP IS A SKILL
wearing makeup is a way of expressing your self as an individual not withstanding if you are male or female. however, in Nigeria, this is being frowned as and referred to as a gay act and people, most especially young men are at a receiving end of this discriminations. now, i know a lot of talented young male makeup artist on social media as well as content creator that majorly work with makeup artist. these help in promoting their business and attract more customers for more patronage. irrespective of who you are, everyone should be able to wear makeup and not be discriminated against.
In Nigeria, men in makeup face bulling and then compounded with the fact that the society encourage homophobic trolling which majorly leads to queer people being victimized and brutalized mot especially by the Nigerian police. if you remember vividly during the #ENDSARS protests in 2020 when Nigerians gathered to stop the extreme violence received from the special anti rubbery squad, many young men that experimented with makeup were always stopped and interrogated by the Nigerian policy and you can imagine what that would entail.
i honestly do hope for a Nigerian society where everyone can be who or what they want to be and not be prosecuted for it
18 April 2021
THE CONFESSION OF BRIGHT
Bright, who comes from Benin City, Nigeria, struggled with depression and eventually became homeless when his parents threw him out following a blackmail experience with the Nigeria police.
sometime in May 2020, the 19-year old was lured and arrested by the Nigerian police officers in Benin City, who had used other previously arrested young gay men as bait to catch their friends.
Bright says “I just walked right into their trap. I didn't do anything. I was only hoping to meet up with a friend of friends after he called me that he needed me to come to help him pick up something for another one of our friends. That two police officers grabbed me by the trousers and asked for my name. The moment I confirmed my name, I was arrested”.
if was however released on bail but when he returned home, he received a shock of a lifetime.
His family had called and reported the issue to everyone they knew and that included their pastor. "I was then asked to leave the house that I brought shame to the family. My dad said he was never going to have a gay son,” Bright lamented.
Bright said he was homeless for about a month until a friend took him in. However, the friend was also living with his family, and they did not approve of his sexuality. It was then that he reached out to NoStringsNG, which provided transportation for him to move to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where he was provided shelter at a safe house run by a trans group.
“I must confess that I feel lonely and depressed sometimes, but I am certainly happy to have found a place to stay. I have some peace now and can sleep well at least at night. I appreciate the support that I received and I am aprreciative,” Bright said.
4 April 2021
Clubhouse and LGBTQ+
The LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria has been experiencing frequent abuse lately on the popular social media app Clubhouse. the invitation-based app has been used by queer Nigerians as an escape. the app is used to discuss LGBTQ+ issues and topics.
One user described Clubhouse as a “safe haven” and a “holding space for each other [the LGBTQ+ community].”
Nigeria is considered to be one of the most dangerous countries for the LGBTQ+ community and it has been ranked as the worst place for LGBTQ+ safety, due to the prospect of 14 years in prison or the death penalty for homosexuality, as well as the criminalization of LGBTQ+ rights discussions.
Although Clubhouse has been a safe haven for most, abuse and anti-LGBTQ+ behavior have become more common since its introduction.
Some homophobic chatrooms have even disguised themselves as LGBTQ+ friendly, luring in unsuspecting people before unleashing horrible verbal attacks.
The hijacking of queer spaces on social media has become more common in Nigeria, with some homophobes even tricking gay individuals on Grindr. even with heavy precautions, some users have stated that nothing has been done for reports of abuse.
Homophobia is rife throughout the country, back in 2019 an influential police chief, Dolapo Badmos, told LGBTQ+ people to leave or face prosecution and this statement has caused a lot more harm than good.
28 March 2021
Son of the Rainbow narrates his experience
Mathew Blaise who is popularly known as The son of the rainbow, on social media, talk about his experience with a Priest about two years ago, just after he had posted about his sexuality on Facebook. He said a priest invited him to his church office and harassed him physically by throwing punches and choking him. People that witnessed the incident, did absolutely nothing to intervene, a not-uncommon response to anti-LGBTQ violence in Nigeria, Blaise says. Only 7% of Nigerians surveyed by Pew for its 2020 report said homosexuality should be accepted by society, the lowest rate among polled countries. In 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan signed a law that criminalizes public displays of same-sex affection and threatening LGBTQ couples who marry or have “amorous relationships” with up to 14 years in prison. In some states, same-sex relations are punishable by death.
The assault fueled Blaise, who’s nonbinary and gay, to become more outspoken on social media. After the killing of a Nigerian gay man last March, they created the #EndHomophobiaInNigeria hashtag, which trended for two days. Blaise also organized a group of queer people to march during last year’s protests against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a branch of the national police that has a reputation for targeting the LGBTQ community.
Last year, LGBTQ Nigerians won a minor victory when a judge threw out a case against 47 men charged with public display of affection, a crime that can carry a 10-year sentence. “It’s a very beautiful thing to know that despite these laws that condemn our existence, we are still resilient,” Blaise says
21 March 2021
Help save Jane Otubo
On Friday the 19th of March 2021, the Lagos State Police Command announced that their operatives had arrested a 28-year-old groceries seller, Jane Otubo, for participation in gay activities somewhere in Oshodi.
Otubo, is a native of Enugu State but was apprehended at Eniola Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos by the Makinde Police Division.
"We have arrested a middle-aged man for homosexual acts. He is allegedly a habitual homosexual. Police operatives attached to Makinde division nabbed him on Thursday in the Mafoluku area," the Police Spokesperson, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said when interviewed.
This is what living in Nigeria and gay means, constant police arrests, bullying and disgrace, and humiliation. Otubo is human, an adult who should be allowed to have sex with whoever he pleases but the reverse is the case here. he was dragged out by his own neighbor and reported to the police who is currently making life unbearable for him.
we need to do something with this antigay law in Nigeria because the life of LGBTQ is at stake.
7 March 2021
#ENDATIGAYLAWINIGERIA
Coming out to my friends and family is a huge step that Uche Maduagwu took so that he can be himself and become the person that he is. He was tired of hiding and living in a shell of himself. He took to social media to speak publicly. After announcing his sexuality reveal he took to his Instagram page a few weeks ago to speak about his experience after opening.
According to this controversial actor, he has lost many endorsement deals, all movie roles, and even lost friends and he is now asking people to join him to embark on a peaceful protest to put an end to anti-gay law in Nigeria.
I am excited that he is able to come but as we all know, his safety is now at stake! I am literally scared for him because he wants to embark on a journey that can cost him his life. The situation of the Lekki toll gate is still fresh and we vividly remember how peaceful protesters were shot at point-blank! Now imagine an LGBTQ Protest! Typing it alone makes me scared of the letters. I remembered during the #EndSARS protesters, we used the medium to peacefully talk about #LGBTQLIVESMATTERS but to my utmost surprise, I got threatened to dare it after the #EndSARS movement and see what will happen. That alone still make me hid in my shell.
20 February 2021
Gender Identity
A lot of people are ignorant of what Gender identity truly refers to. In most cases people always think about transgender when Gender identity is mentioned, however there are other 112 gender identities recognized in New York City and other cities. For instance, there is the “gender neutral”, refering to people who are neither male nor female.
There is also the “aero gender”, refers to people who claim that their gender fluctuates with their surroundings.
There is also the “gender fluid” or “gender flux”, that is, persons alleging that their gender is in permanent flux. For example, in one month they could claim to be males and in another month they could claim to be females.
There is also the “demi gender” that is, persons who claim that they are partially male and partially female.
There is also the “adamas gender”, that is, persons who cannot be categorized either as male or female. Right now in Alberta, Canada and in some parts of the West employers of labour are barred from asking their employees to disclose their sex or gender or stating specifically whether they should be addressed as “Mr.” or “Mrs.” or “Miss” or “Ms.” or any other thing. Employers of labour who violate this “human right” of their employees stand the risk of being dragged to the law court.
There is also the “amica gender”, that is, persons who claim that their gender changes depending on which friend they are with at a particular time.
Therefore when we are talking about LGBTQ and Gender Identities, please understand that it is a big deal that should be taken seriously.
16 January 2021
Nigerian and Queer 🌈
With the evolution of the internet there is no question that the LGBTQ Community in Nigeria is on the periphery, but it has found a stable haven for collective LGBTQ voices on a digital platforms.
Social media as well as various dating gay-friendly websites have in recent time created a safe and anonymous life spa e where LGBTQ can express themselves freely social media and other gay-friendly apps and websites where they can come out to connect, advocate, find emotional and financial support, and the courage to be open about their sexuality’ even with the knowledge that the society frowns at us and what we stand for.
Social media now allows the queer Nigerian to unapologetically express their sexuality, for example, you can incorporate vocabularies such as ‘’gay’’, ‘’homo’’ and ‘’queer’’ . You can also use the rainbow, which is the global emblem of LGBTQ activism in your handle.
The downside is that the digital space can also expose you to blackmail and assault that can lead to being arrested by the police and like you know the Nigerian law is not in support of LGBTQ.
2 January 2021
LGBTQ and Nigerian Pastors
It is amazing how Nigerian religious leaders treat LGBTQ as people possessed by evil spirit.
Shortly before the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria (March 2020) Sharon (surname withheld for security purpose) was taken to a white garment church by her mother for prayers for financial breakthrough unknown to her that a friend had informed her mother that she was a Lesbian.
Upon getting to the church, the pastor who had previously agreed with Sharon's mother that she needed a deliverance conducted for Sharon to be delivered from the evil spirit that has possessed her, starting an intercessory prayer that lasted for about an hour, the pastor told Sharon's mother that Sharon will have to remain with them for 14days.
'Those 14 days were the worst days of my life! They beat me, slapped me, poured me water and for these days, I was not allowed to take a bath.' Sharon lamented. She eventually had to confess to having a evil spirit and that the spirit has been gotten rid of just because she needed a break and if that means accepting that she was possessed by evil spirit just because she was a Lesbian, she was willing to do it. It was only then that she was allowed to go home after she had given a testimony in church publicly.
When I hear experiences such as Sharon's, I wonder why our people have refused to understand that being LGBTQ is not something that is spiritual or a fashion. It is noteworthy to understand that it is who you are and that shouldn't be an offense to anyone or groups or government.
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